As 2026 employment data rolls out and we try to make sense of the new year's economy, the U-6 rate offers a less-cited but revealing indicator of labor market health.
History reminds us that progress has never come from moderation or retreat. It has come from people who refused to wait their turn, who organized, resisted, and reshaped the nation.
For too long, the wealthy and powerful have used the cycle of economic and political power to enrich themselves and entrench their control. In this piece, Dēmos president Taifa Smith Butler envisions a more virtuous cycle of power.
This report exposes the hidden labor crisis behind America's booming houseplant industry and makes the case for a worker-driven accountability model that has already delivered real improvements for workers in other industries.
In her latest piece, Dēmos President Taifa Smith Butler imagines what it will take for us to build forward, guided by the principles that Dr. King described as the “beloved community.”
If we want to build an economy that works for everyone, we must focus not only on how many jobs are created, but also on strengthening worker power and advancing policies that improve job quality—especially in undervalued sectors.
A stronger economy starts with a stronger care system. Treating care as public infrastructure would benefit care recipients, care workers, and caregivers alike, while strengthening the economy for all of us.
